Expansion joint-structure for pavements, floors, and the like



Sept. 26, 1933. c. B. SHANLEY 1,928,302

EXPANSION JOINT STRUCTURE FOR PAVEMENTS, FLOORS, AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 29, 1930 HTTvRA/E) Patented Sept. 26, 1933 EXPANSiON JOINT-STRUCTURE FOR PAVE- MENTS, FLOORS, AND THE LIKE ConnorB. Shanley, St. Louis, Mo. Ap iication August 29, 1930. Serial No. 478,816 Claims. (01. 94-48) This invention relates "generally to pavements aindjhasiparticul'ar reference to expansion jointstructures for pavements, roads, walks, floors, and the-like. j v I My invention especially, though not exclusively, adapted for use connection withconcreteroad's and highways, in which, as is well known to those skilledinthe art, the road surface or pavement is for expansion purposes cast in sections or slabs on asuitable base or subgrade, anowance for expansion between the slab- "s'ections being permitted by providing a suitable so -called expansion space, which expansion space generally creates a discontinuity and lack of 'sinoothnessin the tread or surface of the pave ment. v V

'The chief object of my inventio'n'is to provide an expansion joint structure for pavements and the like which the expansion space is bridged or covered by a tread-plate set flush with the surface of the pavement, the tread-plate being supported on suitable shoulders cast in the opposing pavement-section ends and secured in place by suitable keying means engaging the pavement-"slabs, while allowing adequate expans'ion thereof,

- Further objects of my invention are toprovide in a pavement of the character described a treadplate type of expansion joint structure, which effectively protects the adjoining ends of the pavement sections, safely 'aiiords a large degree of expansion space between the sections, may be readily removed from the pavement structure for repairs "to the'tread plate or the pavement '35 structurefitself, is economical in manufacture and "installation, and practical, durable, and highly efficient in its intended use.

And with the above and other objects in View,

my invention resides 'in theriovel features of 40 form, construction,arrangement, and cornbination of parts hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims;

in theaccompanying drawing- Figure 1 is a top plan view of a pavement tion;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the joint-structure of my invention, taken approximately alongthe line 2-2, Figure 1;

Figure Sis a fragmentary sectional view of" the joint-structure, taken approximately along the lin'e 3+3, Figure 2; and

equipped with a joint-structure of my in'vennectihg'th pavement section's B, is a tread-mate Figure 4 isairaginentary top'plan view of the r parts shown 'in Fi e 3.

Referring now more in detail and by reference characters to the drawing, which'illus'trates a preferred embodiment of my invention, a conventional type of concrete highway or road construction is shown equipped with my improved joint-structure as an example of one use of my invention. In such constructions commonly, there is provided a foundation or support A, best seen in Figure 2, which may, as in the present instance, comprise a cinder or like filling laid on the so-called sub-grade or suitably prepared natural soil-material.

However, it may be here stated that, as in the construction of city streets, bridge 'iioors, or similar structures, a suitable's'ub-base, usually of masonry, but possibly 'of steel, may be employed for supporting the pavement.

on the foundation A, is suitably cast, in the case of concrete pavements, a plurality of disconnected but longitudinally contiguous ahd aligned pavement'sections or slabs Bfthe pavement being cast in sections for providing the llsual construction joints to allow for and localize the construction of the pavement, and the op- 0 posing or ohlfronti'ng' ends of each pan of .paveinept sections Bbeing more or less suitably spaced apart, as shown, for accommodating an expansioil joint to anew or compensate 'for the thermal eipansion of the pavement structure due to changing temperature conditions. such expans on joints are illustrated "in Figure l as disposed transversely the direction of the pavement. However, it ma be'state'd that, in relatively Wide avements, similar 'BXDahsiOII jointsm'ay be provided longitudinally, as well as transversely, 'iil.th pavement.

' In myin'vention the suitably spaced opposing or confronting" faces of each "pair of adjoining pavement sections B are partially'cut awai' or reduced in "thickness and the sections B thereby provided with o posed shoulderednd portions 1, and the :jo'intspace between such sections is aiso therebydii/i'ded into a 'relatively'wide upper part or channel? and anarrewe'r olreduced-lower part'or slot 3. V V

Adapted for dispositioniii the channel 2 to seat or rest on the slab porti'ons 1 for bridging the respective expansion spaces at the joints for conor bar D disposed in a'ihaniier, as shortly appeari'n'g', to maintain the c ntinuity of the surface of the paveihent while allowing dequate expansion ,orcontraction movement of'the pavement structlii. V

v i, 3 a The tread plate D preferably, as if! the 'b'r'se'ht instance, extends also for the width of the pavement-section B and comprises a body-portion 4 of preferably rectangular or other suitable crosssection adapted, as stated, to reside in said channel 2 for engaging said shouldered portions 1, the Width of the channel 2 being selected, I might add, to allow for the desired expansion clearance between the side walls of the channel 2 and the sides of the body portion 4 of the bar D, and the depth of the channel 2 being such that the upper face of the bar D is substantially flush with the top or upper surface of the pavement. Suitably disposed for preventing the entry of dirt and the like into the channel 2, is a pair of lateral wings or flanges 5 also flush at their upper face with the top of, and oppositely projecting from, the bar body portion 4, each pavement section B being correspondingly suitably cut away, as at 6, to accommodate the respective flanges or wings 5, as best seen in Figure 2, the wings 5 being preferably chamfered at their outer margin, as at 5, and the recesses 6 being correspondingly beveled, as at 6, to more effectively accommodate and permit contracting engagement between the bar-wings 5 and the pavement sections B.

For retaining or anchoring the bar D to the pavement sections B, a longitudinal channel or groove 7 is provided in each of the opposite end portions of the upper or tread surface of the bar D, opening into which and disposed vertically through the bar-body 4 are respective preferably rectangular apertures 8, which also, as shown, communicate at their lower end with the expansion space or slot 3 between the opposing pavement-ends or shoulders 1. I

Having a stem 9 adapted for projection .upwardly through a respective aperture 8, is a T- bolt E, the head 10 of which is adapted, when its axis is parallel with the slot 3, for passage therebetween into a suitable recess 11 provided for the purpose in the foundation A, the head 10, however, when turned crosswise of the slot 3, engaging upon the under faces of the respective flanges or shoulders 1 of the sections B. The

walls of the slot 3 are, of course, sufiiciently spaced apart to provide clearance therebetween and the stem 9 of the bolt E to allow for the desired expansion of the pavement-sections.

The stem 9 of the bolt E isprovided adjacent its upper end with an aperture 12 disposed transversely to the axis of the head 10, andlon'gitudinally disposed in the channel '7, is a taper key 13 adapted to be passed through the aperture 12, when the bolt-head 10 is crosswise disposed in the recess 11, for wedging engagement of said key 13 between the outer wall of the aperture 12 and the floor of the channel 7, thus effectively detachably clamping and securing the bar D to the pavement sections B. I might add that the T-bolt E and, of course, the key 13, both reside below the surface of the pavement-sections B, a suitable more or less readily removable mastic filler or the like 14 being deposited in the grooves '7 after the assembly of the parts.

In use, the foundation A being suitably prepared with the recesses 11, the pavement sections B are constructed, as described, and the T-bolts E inserted in the manner set forth'crosswise of the expansion slot 3 for engaging the underside of the pavement slabs, the stems9 upstanding hence into the space or channel 2.

The tread bar D is then disposed in the channel 2 with the stems 9 of the bolts E projecting through the apertures 8, and the wedge-keys 13 driven in place. It will hence be seen that the bar D may be installed in a simple, facile manner and also that its removal for repairs to the joint structure or to the surrounding pavement may be quickly and easily accomplished. The wedging action of the keys 13 is highly efficient in resisting the dislodging tendency of vibration occasioned by traflic on the pavement, and I might point out that the slab-shoulders 1, which support the tread-bar D, and also the edges of the pavement sections B, are adequately protected from the erosive effects of traffic on the pavement, thus providing a strong, durable, and highly efficient joint construction for the purposes intended.

It will be understood that my invention may be employed with other than the concrete pavement structures described, hence I do not wish to be limited to the specific type and use of pavement construction shown, and it will be further understood that changes and modifications in the form, construction, arrangement, and combination of parts may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without departing from the nature and principle of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, .what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an expansion joint structure for pave- 1 ments and the like, in combination with a pair of contiguous pavement sections having spaced confronting shouldered portions, a tread bar having a rigid body-portion disposed in spaced relation between, and resting on the shouldered portions of, said sections, and means including a T-bolt adapted for engagement with the bar and with said section portions for anchoring the tread-bar in place. 5

2. In an expansion joint structure for pavements and the like, in combination with a pair of continguous pavement sections having spaced confronting shouldered portions, an apertured tread bar disposed in spaced relation between, and resting on said shouldered portions of, said sections, and means for anchoring the bar in place, said means including a T-bolt adapted for projection at its shank into the aperture of the bar and for engagement at its head with saidr; section portions, and a member for detachably securing the bar to the bolt.

3. In an expansion joint structure for pavements and thelike, in combination with a pair of contiguous pavement sections having spaced" confronting shouldered portions, a tread bar disposed in spaced relation between, and resting on said shouldered portions of, said sections, the bar having a surface channel and an aperture opening at an end into said channel and at its other end to the under face of the bar, and means for anchoring the bar to said sections, said means including a T bolt adapted for projection at its shank through said aperture into said channel and for engagement at its head with said section portions, and a wedge key adapted to reside in said channel and for engagement with the boltshank for detachably securing the bar to the bolt.

4. A tread bar for an expansion joint structure for pavements comprising a body-portion adapted to reside in a channel in the pavement, said bar having a surface channel and an aperture opening at an end into the channel and at its other end to the under face of the bar, .a T-member adapted for engagement atits head with the pavement structure and for projection at its shank through said aperture into the channel,

the shank having an aperture, and a key adapted for shiftable movement in the channel and through said shank-aperture for detachably securing the T-member and bar together.

5. A tread bar for an expansion joint structure for pavements comprising a body-portion adapted to reside in a channel in the pavement, said bar having a surface channel and an aperture opening at an end into the channel and at its CONNOR B. SHANLEY. 

